Hanoi Experiential Day Trips - 1 day

In the morning, you will visit Dao Thuc Village, the root of Vietnamese water puppetry, where locals have been doing their best to preserve this sacred art in its traditional form.

For 1 hour long, jump into the fantasy world of water puppetry, where you will not only be able to see the numerous forms of traditional wooden puppets displaying great parts of Northern villages and local life, but also pull the strings to reveal that secret doors behind the scenes. Originated from Red River Delta, the puppetry show is one of the most iconic and inherited art performances in the nation, embracing authentic values to Vietnamese culture as well as quintessence of Tonkin.

After show, you can greet the artisans who create little puppets out of raw wood and the puppeteers who give them real souls. Enjoy a private lunch with the troupe.

In the afternoon, meet a devoted artist who is revolutionizing the puppetry and hear his stories and fantastic approach to combine the age-old traditions with modern platforms.

Note: Pick-up and drop-off at hotel in Hanoi

Get ready for an off-grid adventure right at the heart of Hanoi city!

After a short car transfer from your hotel, you will reach the peaceful shores of the Red River. Start here for a 2-kilometer hike across an oasis of green setting amidst the urban jungle. You will walk on a little pathway across one of the largest islands in the Red River, crossing lots of fruit orchards, banana plantations and vegetable gardens along the way. Feel the tranquil life beyond the crowded streets and busy motorcycle lanes, miles away from the bustling capital.

Yet, look up to spot the skyscrapers that seem so close under the horizontal line before heading to an immense piece of Hanoi’s ultimate heritage, the iconic Long Bien Bridge – designed by the creator of Eiffel tower and once heavily bombed during the war. Enjoy the city and island landscapes, two magnificent world bridging in-between.

The tour ends at Dong Xuan market, where you can explore utmost local culture beyond colorful stalls and street vendors before going back to the hotel.

Wake up early birds!

Today tour begins at 5.30 AM with lots of fun and exciting travel hints. 

You will walk a bit to warm up and catch the first rays of morning sun spreading around Hanoi city. Then, head to Long Bien Market – the biggest fruit and vegetable wholesale market in Northern Vietnam. Here, you can witness buyers crowding around open-back trucks, money counters holding court over their stalls, motorbikes weaving down aisles and other mind-boggling scenes of daily life.

Then, step onto the historical timeline over Long Bien Bridge – the symbol of Hanoi that stays still after two bloody wars. This is where you can indulge in the glorious sunrise over the Red River.

The most fascinating part of day tour is incoming! You will be back to the Old Quarter and steam up your stomach with a hot bowl of the famous “pho”, plus, a cup of classic coffee.

After breakfast, visit Vietnam’s first university – Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam (The Temple of Literature). The oldest sections of Van Mieu date from 1070, but only four of the interlocking courtyards survived French bombing.

From there, transfer to the nearby park and visit 3 icons of Hanoi: One is the open space for the Lenin Statue, a reminder of Vietnam’s Communist standing opposite to Hanoi Flag Tower and the Vietnam Military History Museum Hanoi. French colonial destroyed most of the construction in the Imperial Citadel, and Flag Tower is one of rare architecture works which still remain today. Get on top, you will gain a great view of the city. The Vietnam Military History Museum Hanoi, also known as the Army Museum, houses an extensive collection of weaponry that was used throughout Vietnam’s war-filled history. Notable attractions lay open air is the wreckage of an American B-52 bomber, an M107 self-propelled gun, and a military tank that had ploughed through the gates of Saigon’s Presidential Palace, thus ending the Vietnam War in 1975.

At the end, track along the railway path and see how local people carry out their daily life by the rails. For lunch, you sample the significant meal of Hanoi: “bun cha” at a local restaurant.